Bottling method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A filling system for light weight semi-rigid bottles made of resiliently deformable material. The rising bottle empties and closes the bellows-type sealing rubber, and continues to rise and opens the filling valve. After the bottle is filled, the descending bottle closes the valve, and as the bottle continues to descend, the bellows-type sealing rubber expands to create a vacuum. A controlled amount of fluid is sucked up from the top of the bottle while the flexible side walls move inward, thus assuring an accurate uniform height of fill. As a substitute for the bellows-type sealing rubber an expandable and contractable cylinder unit may surround the supply passage.

United States Patent [1 1 Fee et al.

[11.1 3,871,425 51 Mar. 18, 1975 BOTTLING METHOD AND APPARATUS I [75]Inventors: David C. Fee, Elm Groove; William F. Hammernik, Milwaukee,both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: Federal Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 405,095

[52] US. Cl 141/5, 141/117, l4l/293, 141/295, 141/351 [51] Int. Cl. B65b3/04 [58] Field of Search 141/1, 4-7, 141/59, 114,116, 117, 291-300, 392

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 862,867 8/1907 Eggleston141/392 2,324,793 7/1943 Minard 141/300 3,416,577 12/1968 Franz 141/295FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,066,118 l/l954 France 141/117 PrimaryExaminerHouston Bell, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lames E, Nilles [57]ABSTRACT A filling system for light weight semi-rigid bottles made ofresiliently deformable material. The rising bottle empties and closesthe bellows-type sealing rubber, and continues to rise and opens thefilling valve. After the bottle is filled, the descending bottle closesthe valve, and as the bottle continues to descend, the bellows-typesealing rubber expands to create a vacuum. A controlled amount of fluidis sucked up from,

the top of the bottle while the flexible side walls move inward, thusassuring an accurate uniform height of till. As a substitute for thebellows-type sealing rubber an expandable and contractable cylinder unitmay surround the supply passage.

18 Claims, 34 Drawing Figures PATENTEB MAR I 8 I975 SHEET 8 0f 9 1BOTTLING METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to apparatus for filling liquids. It is concerned moreparticularly with the filling of liquids to a precise fill height insemi-rigid plastic bottles.

In automatic bottle filling, it is customary to use a turret typemachine in which a series of bottles are filled with liquid from asupply bowl while the bowl and bottles rotate about a vertical axis. Insuch a machine the bottle filling cycle is started by lifting an emptybottle from a position below a filling valve into an elevated positionin which the filling valve has entered into the mouth of the bottle to acertain depth. While the neck of the bottle telescopes over the fillingvalve, a supply passage of the valve opens automatically and after thebottle has arrived in the raised position the supply passage is keptopen for a length of time to permit fluid to accumulate in the bottle. Avent passage of the valve provides for the escape of air from the bottleas the liquid level rises in the bottle. The flow of liquid into thebottle is stopped by lowering the bottle from its raised position andthereby closing the supply passage. In some filling systems the fluid inthe vent tube is retained by automatically closing the vent passage atits lower end. In other filling systems as disclosed for instance in US.Pat. No. 2,518,349, issued Aug. 8, 1950 to J. B. McCabe, the fluid inthe vent tube is held in pipette by closing the upper end of the ventpassage. In other filling systems the fluid in the vent tube movesupward to a low pressure area above the liquid in the supply tank at thetime the filled bottle separates from the valve and exposes the loweropening of the vent passage to the atmosphere.

Rigid containers, such as glass bottles which do not expand under thehydrostatic head of the liquid therein and in the supply bowl, can besatisfactorily filled with conventional turret type filling machines.Semi-rigid containers which are made of resiliently deformable material,such as plastic bottles, can also be filled satisfactorily in likemanner if the design and strength of side walls is such that thehydrostatic head causes only minimal expansion of the container.However, it is the semi-rigid bottle which distends to a greater degreethat presents a problem.

If the supply and vent passages were closed while the bottle is indistended condition, and the bottle were then withdrawn from the fillingvalve, the resulting relief of pressure on the liquid in the bottlewould cause the bottle to contract somewhat and some of the liquidtherein would be spilled over the edge of its mouth.

Such spilling of liquid from the bottle is, of course, objectionable andvarious attempts have heretofore been made to avoid it. According to onesuggestion which has heretofore been made to prevent the spilling ofliquid from a plastic bottle due to its contraction after removal fromthe filling valve, steps are to be taken as follows. Liquid is allowedto flow from the supply bowl to an antechamber until the antechamber isfilled; thereafter a connection is established between the antechamberand the bottle; a vent stack is opened to the top of the bottle; theantechamber is opened to the bowl for gravity refilling thereof as thecontents of the antechamber drain into the bottle; the bottle is allowedto fill completely as the fluid level rises in the vent stack; the ventand the communication between the bowl and the antechamber aresubstantially closed to establish a substantially closed system in whichthe antechamber and the bottle form communicating parts; the volume ofthe antechamber is expanded while the antechamber and the bottle are incommunication as parts of the substantially closed system and as aresult of the expansion of the antechamber the volume of fluid betweensaid parts is shifted to cause the bottle to assume a normal or nearnormal configuration; the communication between the bottle and theantechamher is then substantially interrupted and the mechanicalconnection between the bottle and the antechamber is separated.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbottling method and apparatus which avoids spilling of liquids from aplastic bottle due to its contraction after removal from the fillingvalve, the improved method and apparatus being greatly simplified ascompared with the mentioned prior art procedure which involves the useof an antechamber and shifting of liquid between parts of asubstantially closed system. The simplicity of this filling valve isespecially important in meeting the high sanitary requirements forthefilling of milk and also pharmeceutical liquids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing objects in mind theinvention contemplates the following steps. Placing the empty bottleinto communication with separate supply, vent and suction passages;feeding liquid into the bottle through the supply passage whilemaintaining the vent and suction passages separately incommunicationwith the bottle; closing the supply and vent passages afterliquid has passed through the filled bottle into the vent pas sage;temporarily applying suction to the suction passage while the supply andvent passages are closed until part of the bottle content has beenwithdrawn through the suction passage; and removing the bottle from theclosed supply and vent passages.

By performing these process steps according to the invention, a certainamount of liquid is withdrawn from the completely filled bottle afterthe supply and vent passages have been closed and while the trappedfluid in the bottle is still under the pressure which has been built uptherein by the hydrostatic head of the liquid in the supply bowl and inthe supply and vent passages. The withdrawn liquid is excess liquidwhose removal from the bottle room into which liquid in the bottle mayexpand during contraction of the bottle. The amount of withdrawn excessliquid may readily be proportioned so that the bottle in its normallyfilled condition contains a precise, predetermined amount of liquid formarketing.

The equipment for performing the improved process steps is relativelysimple and readily lends itself to the frequent cleaning which isrequired when potable liquids are being handled.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome more fully apparent as this specification proceeds with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical section of abottle filling valve embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5-10 are views similar to FIG. 1 at a reduced scale, showingvarious phase of the operating cycle of the FIG. 1 valve in connectionwith a plastic bottle;

FIG. 11 is a vertical section of a first modification of the FIG. 1valve embodying the invention;

FIGS. 12-17 are views similar to FIG. 11, at a reduced scale, showingvarious phases of the operating cycle of the FIG. 11 valve in connectionwith a plastic bottle;

FIG. 18 is a vertical section of a second modification of the FIG. 1valve embodying the invention;

FIGS. 19-24 are views to FIG. 18 at a reduced scale, showing variousphases of the operating cycle of the FIG. 18 valve in connection with aplastic bottle;

FIG. 25 is a vertical section of a third modification of the FIG. 1valve embodying the invention;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of part of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a section on line 27-27 of FIG. 25;

FIGS. 28-33 are views similar to FIG. 25 at a reduced scale, showingvarious phases of the operating cycle of the FIG. 25 valve in connectionwith a plastic bottle; and

FIG. 34 is a view similar to FIG. 25 and shows a modifieation of theFIG. 25 valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The reference character 1 in FIG. 1 designates partof the liquid supply bowl of a turret type bottling machine. A bottlefilling valve generally designated by the reference character 2 isconnected in depending position to the bowl 1 and comprises thefollowing principal parts; namely, a tubular spout element 3, a tubularvent element 4, an axially back and forth shiftable sleeve element 6,and a bellows element 7 which forms an annular axially expandable andcontractable suction chamber around the lower attenuated end of thesleeve 6. The spout 3 is rigidly secured to the supply bowl 1,

, and the vent tube 4 is suspended in a vertically fixed position on thespout 3 by means of a supporting spider 8. The vent tube 4 extendsaxially through the spout 3 and terminates at its lower end in acircular head 9. The upper part of the vent tube 4 extends within thesupply bowl 1 to a height above the level of the fluid stored therein,in conformity with conventional practice. The interior of the vent tube4 provides a vent passage 5 (FIG. 2) which is open on top and terminatesat its lower end in a radial aperture 12 as shown in FIG. 3. The sleeve6 is telescopically fitted into the spout 3 and provided with an O-ring13 which seals the sleeve at its periphery against the interior of thespout 3. The radial space between the vent tube 4 and spout 3, andbetween the vent tube 4 and the sleeve 6 provides a supply passage 14through which fluid may flow from the supply bowl 1 to the lower end ofthe sleeve 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the vent tube 4 is stabilized withinthe sleeve 6 and for that purpose is provided with an arcuate peripheralsurface and with a rib 16 which bears against the cylindrical innersurface of the sleeve 6.

The lower attenuated end 10 of the sleeve 6 telescopically engages thehead 9 of the vent tube 4. An O-ring 17 within a groove 11 of the head 9forms a valve seat which in the condition of the valve as shown in FIG.1 is engaged by the circular lower edge of the attenuated sleeve end 10.A coil spring 18 surrounding the spout 3 reacts between the latter andthe sleeve 6 so as to urge the circular edge of the sleeve end 10 intosealing engagement with the O-ring 17 and thereby closes the supplypassage 14. A deflector plate 19 is seated on a flange portion of thesleeve 6 below the coil spring 18.

The bellows element 7 is made of rubber or rubberlike material and isshown in FIG. 1 in its axially expanded condition. At its upper end, thebellows 7 is sealingly secured to an annular shoulder of the sleeve 6above the attenuated end wall 10 thereof and at its lower end thebellows 7 is provided with a metal ring 21 which surrounds the sleeveend 10, but whose inside diameter (FIG. 4) is somewhat larger than theoutside diameter of the sleeve end 10. The annular space 20 between themetal ring 21 and the sleeve end 10 forms a suction passage incommunication with the interior of the bellows 7. In the condition ofthe valve as shown in FIG. 1, the axial expanding force of the bellows 7urges the lower edge of the metal ring 21 into sealing engagement withthe O-ring 17.

The metal ring 21 forms an axially reciprocable annular valve elementwhich defines the suction passage 20 exteriorly of the sleeve 6 andwhich is moved into and out of sealing engagement with the valve seat 17on the element 4: as will be explained later.

FIG. 5 illustrates the condition of the FIG. 1 valve at the beginning ofa filling cycle. A bottle B of resiliently deformable material such asanordinary plastic milk bottle has been raised to a position in which themouth of the bottle just touches the lower end of the axially expandedbellows 7 on a circular surface surrounding the suction passage 20. Thisestablishes communication of the suction passage 20 with the bottle.However, the supply passage 14 and the vent passage 5 are closed byengagement of the sleeve end 10 with the O-ring l7.

Fluid from the bowl -1 fills the supply passage 14, and the lower end ofthe vent passage 5 is sealed by engagement of the sleeve end 10 with theO-ring 17 under the pressure of the coil spring 18.

In FIG. 6, the bottle B is shown raised a distance from its FIG. 5position which causes full axial contraction of the bellows 7. In thiscondition of the bellows 7 the valve ring 21 bears against a shoulder ofthe sleeve 6 while the spring 18 keeps the sleeve end 10 in sealingengagement with the O ring l7. Contraction of the bellows 7 forces airor liquid if present from the interior of the bellows into the bottlethrough the suction passage 20.

In FIG. 7, the bottle B is shown raised a distance from its FIG. 6position which causes the sleeve 6 to be lifted in opposition to thepressure of the coil spring 18. The upward movement of the bottle istransmitted to the sleeve 6 through the lower end of the contractedbellows 7. Lifting of the sleeve 6 to the FIG. 7 position places thesupply passage 14 and the vent passage 5 in communication with thebottle B. Fluid from the supply bowl 1 will now flow into the bottlewhile air therein is expelled through the vent passage 5. Any liquidwhich might have stood in the vent passage 5 before the sleeve 6 islifted from the FIG. 6 to the FIG. 7 position will drain into the bottleas soon as the lower sleeve end 10 is unseated from the O-ring 17.Continued fluid flow from the bowl 1 through the supply passage 14 fillsthe bottle and thereafter enters into the vent passage 5 before thefluid flow is stopped by lowering of the bottle to the position in whichit is shown in FIG. 8.

When the bottle is full and liquid stands in the supply and ventpassages the hydrostatic head of the body of liquid in the bottle, inthe supply and vent passages, and

in the supply bowl causes the bottle to distend. In the case of anordinary plastic milk bottle the volume increase due to such distentionwill be substantial, and the amount of liquid held by the distendedbottle will be appreciably larger than the amount of liquid which thebottle would normally be able to hold, that is, when it is distendedonly by the hydrostatic head of the liquid therein without thehydrostatic head of the supply passage and bowl.

In the FIG. 8 condition of the valve, the supply passage 14 and the ventpassage 5 are closed due to lowering of the bottle from its FIG. 7position, and the suc tion passage 20 of the contracted bellows 7.is incommunication with the bottle. The liquid in the bottle is under thepressure which has been built up by the hydrostatic head of the liquidin the supply and vent passages and the bowl, and the bottle istherefore in an ap .preciably distended condition.

In FIG. 9, the bottle is shown lowered a distance from its FIG. 8position, which causes the bellows 7 to expand and apply suction to thefluid in the bottle through the suction passage 20. Since the supplypassage 14 and the vent passage 5 are closed by sealing engagement ofthe sleeve end 10 with the O-ring 17, the suction produced by expansionof the bellows 7 will draw an appreciable amount of the pressurizedliquid from the bottle into the bellows 7 through the suction passage20. Upon arrival of the bottle from the FIG. 8 position in the FIG. 9position, the bellow 7 has not yet fully expanded but the interior ofthe bellows still communicates with the bottle through the suctionpassage 20. Due to the withdrawal of liquid from the bottle into thebellows while the supply passage 14 and vent passage 5 are closed thedistending fluid pressure within the bottle will be diminished. In thatcondition the bottle will still be under some residual fluid pressure inexcess of that which is produced by the hydrostatic head of the normalfluid content of the bottle, that is the hydrostatic head of the fluidto be held by the bottle for marketing.

The residual FIG. 9 fluid pressure within the bottle is dissipated bylowering of the bottle from the FIG. 9 position to the FIG. 10 position.Such lowering of the bottle first causes closure of the suction passageby seating of the valve ring 21 on the O-ring 17, and then separation ofthe mouth of the bottle from the bellows 7. When the valve ring 21becomes seated on the O- ring 17, the head 9 of the vent tube 4 stillprojects into the depressurized fluid in the neck of the bottle. Aslowering of the bottle continues the head 9 pulls out of the bottle andthe depressurized fluid drops to a level somewhat below the edge of thetop opening of the bottle, as indicated by the line 24 in FIG. 10. Theliquid withdrawn into the bellows is excess liquid, that is, liquid inexcess of that which is to be held by the bottle for marketing. Duringthe filling of the next bottle the excess liquid will be forced throughthe suction passage 20 from the bellows into the new bottle while thenew bottle is lifted from the FIG. 5 to the FIG. 6 position. Filling ofthe new bottle will be completed as before during the FIGS. 7 to 10phases of the filling cycle.

The FIG. 11 modification is generally similar to and involves the sameoperating principle as the FIG. 1 em bodiment of the invention. Like theFIG. 1 valve,'the FIG. 11 valve incorporates a spout tube 3, a vent tube4, an axially back and forth shiftable sleeve 25 surrounding the venttube 4, and a bellows 7 surrounding the attenuated lower end 10 ofsleeve 25. In lieu of the coil spring 18 of the FIG. 1 valve, theFIG.'11 valve is provided with a second bellows 26 which is sealinglysecured at its upper end to the lower end of the spout 3 and at itslower end to a portion of the sleeve 25 above the bellows 7. The sleeve25 has an upper flange 27 which limits upward movement of the sleeve byengagement of the flange with the lower end of the spout 3. The radialspace between the vent tube 4 and the spout 3 andbetween the vent tube 4and the sleeve 25 in conjunction with the interior of the bellows 26,de-

fines a fluid supply passage and the interior of the vent tube 4 definesa vent passage 5, the same as the vent passage 5 in FIG. 1. The FIG. 11valve of the invention has'a suction passage 20 between a valve ring 21and the tubular sleeve end 10. O-ring 17 on-the head 9 of the vent tube4 is sealingly engagable by the lower edge of the sleeve end 10 and thevalve ring 21.

The operating phases of the FIG. 11 valve which are illustrated by FIGS.12 to 17 correspond to the operating phases of the FIG. 1 valve whichhave been explained hereinbefore with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10 andtherefore are believed to require no further de tailed explanation.

The FIG. 18 modification of the valve is generally similar to the FIG. 1embodiment of the invention in that it comprises a tubular spout element3, a vent tube 4, an axially shiftable sleeve 28 having an attenuatedlower end 10, and a contractable and expandable suc tion chamber 29surrounding the sleeve end 10. As in FIG. 1, the radial space betweenthe vent tube 4 and the spout 3 and between the vent tube 4 and thesleeve 28 provides a fluid supply passage and the interior of the venttube 4 provides a vent passage.

The contractable and expandable suction chamber of the FIG. 18 valvecomprises a-rigid cup member 31 secured to the sleeve 28 and surroundingthe tube end 10 in radially spaced relation thereto. Slideably fittedinto the FIG. 1 valve. The FIG. 18 valve incorporates a valve seatformed by an Oring 17 like the O-ring 17 of FIG. 1 which is sealinglyengageable by the circular edge of the tube end 10 and the circular edgeof the central aperture of the piston 32. The underside of the piston 32is circularly recessed and is provided with a soft rubber sealing ring34 for cooperative engagement with the mouth of a bottle to be filled. Acoil spring 36 within the suction chamber 29 biases the piston 32 intosealing engagement with the O-ring 17.

The operating phases of the FIG. 18 valve which are illustrated by FIGS.19 to 24 correspond to the operating phases of the FIG. 1 valveillustrated by FIGS. 5 to In the FIG. 19 condition of the valve, themouth of the bottle B engages the sealing ring 34 to place the suctionpassage 20 into communication with the interior of the bottle B. In theFIG. 20 condition of the valve, the suction chamber is contracted andair or liquid, if present, are forced from the suction chamber 29 intothe bottle B through the suction passage 20.

In the FIG. 21 condition of the valve, the supply passage 14 and ventpassage have'been opened by upward movement of the bottle B from itsFIG. 20 position. Lifting movement of the bottle B from its FIG. 20 toits FIG. 21 position is transmitted to the sleeve 28 by the piston 32which is bottomed in thesuction cup 31 against the pressure of the coilspring 36. Upward movement of the sleeve 28 in opposition to thepressure of the coil spring 18 opens the fluid supply and vent passages14 and 5, respectively. In the FIG. 22 condition of the valve, thebottle B is lowered to bring the lower sleeve end into sealingengagement with the O-ring 17 and thereby close the supply passage 14and the vent passage 5 by the pressure of the spring 18. In the FIG. 23condition of the valve, the suction chamber is expanded and excessliquid is withdrawn from the bottle B through the suction passage in thesame manner which has been explained hereinbefore with reference to FIG.9. FIG. 24 shows the final phase of the operation cycle of the FIG. 18valve which corresponds to the final phase of the operating cycle of theFIG. 1 valve which has been explained hereinbefore with reference toFIG. 10.

The FIG. 25 embodiment of the invention is generally similar to the FIG.18 embodiment of the invention but simplified in that only one coilspring 37 is used to perform the functions of the coil springs 18 and 36in the FIG. 18 valve. In the FIG. 25 valve, the contractable andexpandable suction chamber is formed by a cup member 38 which is solidlyconnected to the lower end of the reciprocable sleeve 39 surrounding thevent tube 4. The suction cup 38 telescopically engages the spout barrel41 to which it is sealed by an O-ring 42. The bottom of the suction cup38 has a circular series of apertures 43 which terminate above theO-ring 17 to provide a suction passage 20' (FIG. 26) corresponding tothe suction passage 20 in FIG. 1. The coil spring 37 reacts between aflange of the spout barrel 41 and a flange on the cup 38 so as to forcethe circular edge of the sleeve 39 into sealing engagement with theO-ring 17 and at the same time, seal the vent passage 20' by engagementof the bottom of the suction cup-with the O-ring 17. Like the FIG. 18valve, the FIG. 25 valve has a soft rubber ring 34 for sealingengagement with the mouth of a bottle to be filled.

The operating phases of the FIG. 25 valve which are illustrated by FIGS.28 to 33 correspond to the operating phases of the FIG. 18 valve whichhave been explained hereinbefore with reference to FIGS. 19 to 24.

The FIG. 34 embodiment of the invention differs from the FIG. 25embodiment in that the suction passage 20 is arranged to remain openthroughout the entire operating cycle of the valve. To that end the head9 and the attenuated sleeve end 10 of the FIG. 34 valve are made longerthan the head 9 and sleeve end 10 of the FIG. 25 valve so that in thevalve closing position in which the sleeve 39 is shown in FIG. 34, theO- ring 17 is contacted only by the edge of the sleeve end 10. When thesleeve 39 and cup 38 are lifted, fluid if present in the suction cupwill flow through the passage 20 into the bottle, and when the bottle islowered fluid will be drawn through the passage 20 into the cup 38. Thefluid drawn into the cup will be retained therein by pipette like actionwhen the filled bottle is withdrawn from the valve.

Extending the head of the vent tube and the length of the attenuatedsleeve'end as shown in FIG. 34 also has the advantage that free fluidflow from the valve is less apt to be impeded when the bottle to'befilled ha a short neck of relatively small diameter.

The vent tube 4 in each of the herein disclosed embodiments of theinvention extends axially through the tubular spout element 3 and isspaced inwardly therefrom so as to divide the interior of the spoutelement into separate fluid and vent passages 14 and 5, respectively.The spider 8 provides means securing the spout and vent elements againstaxial displacement relative to each other. In each of the disclosedembodiments of the invention valve means are provided by a seat,represented by the O-ring 17, on thevent tube and by a sleeve element,represented by the sleeve 14, which is shiftable axially relative to thespout and'vent elements in cooperable relation to the fluid and ventpassages so as to open both of said passages by axial shifting of thesleeve element out of engagement with the valve seat and so as to closesaid passages by axial shifting of the sleeve element into engagementwith the valve seat.

In the FIG. 1 and FIG. 11 embodiments of the invention annular axiallyexpandable and contractable wall means are afforded by the bellows 7. Inthe FIG. 18 embodiment of the invention such wall means are afforded bythe cup 31 and piston 32, and in the FIGS. 25 and 34 embodiments of theinvention such wall means are afforded by the cup 38 and the spoutbarrel 41.

We claim:

1. The method of filling a resiliently deformable bottle with liquidwhich comprises:

a. placing the empty bottle into communication with separate supply,vent and suction passages;

b. feeding liquid into the bottle through said supply passage whilemaintaining said vent and suction passages separately in communicationwith said bottle;

c. closing said supply and vent passages after liquid has passed throughthe filled bottle into said vent passage;

(1. temporarily applying suction to said suction passage while saidsupply and vent passages are closed, until part of the bottle contenthas been withdrawn through said suction passage; and

e. removing the bottle from the closed supply, vent and suctionpassages.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 and further comprising the step ofclosing said suction passage after part of the bottle content has beenwithdrawn therethrough.

3. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the empty bottle is firstbrought into communication with said suction passage and thereafter intocommunication with said supply and vent passages.

4. The method set forth in claim 3, wherein said supply and ventpassages are simultaneously brought into communication with the emptybottle.

5. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the empty bottle is firstbrought into communication with said suction passage and then with saidsupply and vent passages, and wherein said supply and vent passages areclosed before said suction passage is closed.

6. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said supply and ventpassages are brought simultaneously into communication with the emptybottle, and wherein said supply and vent passages are simultaneouslyclosed before said suction passage is closed.

7. The method of successively filling bottles with liquid whichcomprises:

a. placing a first empty bottle into communication with separate supply,vent and suction passages;

b. feeding liquid into said first bottle through said supply passagewhile maintaining said vent and suction passage separately incommunication with said first bottle;

c. closing said supply and vent passages after liquid has passed throughthe filled first bottle into said vent passage;

d. temporarily applying suction to said suction passage while saidsupply and vent passages are closed, until part of the content of saidfirst bottle has been withdrawn through said suction passage;

e. removing the first bottle from said suction and closed supply andvent passages;

f. placing a second empty bottle into communication with said supply,vent and suction passages;

g. feeding said withdrawn part of the contents of said first bottlethrough said suction passage and also fluid through said supply passageinto said second bottle;

h. closing said supply and vent passages after liquid has passed throughthe filled second bottle into said vent passage; and

i. removing the second bottle from said suction and closed supply andvent passages.

8. A bottle filling valve comprising a tubular spout element, a tubularvent element extending axially through and spaced inwardly from saidspout element so as to divide the interior of said spout element intoseparate fluid and vent passages; means securing said spout and ventelements against axial displacement relative to each other, valve meansincluding a seat on said vent element and a sleeve element shiftableaxially relative to said spout and vent elements in cooperable relationto said fluid and vent passages so as to open both of said passages byaxial shifting of said sleeve element out of engagement with said valveseat and so as to close said passages by axial shifting of said sleeveelement into engagement with said valve seat; and annular axiallyexpandable and contractable wall means operatively associated with saidsleeve element so as to provide a suction chamber around the latter anda suction passage in communication with said suction chamber at theradially outer side of said sleeve element.

9. A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 8 and further comprisingresilient pressure means biasing said sleeve element axially upon saidvalve seat so as to close said fluid and vent passages; an annular valveelement connected with said wall means and biased by axial expansion ofthe latter upon said valve seat so as to close said suction passage; andabutment means on said sleeve element engageable by said annular valveelement upon axial contraction of said wall means so as to move saidsleeve element in opposition to said resilient pressure means away fromsaid valve seat.

10. A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 9 wherein said valveseat comprises an O-ring sealingly engageable by said sleeve element andby said annular valve element.

11. A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 9 wherein saidresilient pressure means comprise a coil spring reacting axially betweensaid spout and sleeve elements.

12. A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 8 wherein said axiallyexpandable and contractable wall means comprise a bellows membersealingly connected at one of its axially opposite ends with said sleeveelement and having an annular portion at the other of its axiallyopposite ends in surrounding, radially spaced relation to said sleeveelement so as to define a suction passage between said sleeve elementand said other end of said bellows member in communication with theinterior of the latter.

13. A bottle filling valve comprising a tubular spout element, a tubularvent element extending axially through and spaced inwardly from saidspout element so as to divide the interior of said spout element intoseparate fluid and vent passages; means securing said spout and ventelements against axial displacement relative to each other; valve meansincluding a seat on said vent element and a sleeve element shiftableaxially relative to said spout and vent elements in cooperable relationto said fluid and vent passages so as to open both of said passages byaxial shifting of said sleeve element out of engagement with said valveseat and so as to close said passages by axial shifting of said sleeveelement into engagement with said valve seat; a first bellows membersurrounding said sleeve element and sealingly connected at one of itsaxially opposite ends to said sleeve element, an annular valve elementsecured to the other end of said first bellows member in surrounding,radially spaced relation to said sleeve element so as to define asuction passage between said valve element and said sleeve element incommunication with the interior of said first bellows member; said valveelement being movable into and out of sealing engagement with said valveseat on said vent element by axial expansion and contraction,respectively, of said first bellows member; and a second bellows membercoaxial with said first bellows member sealingly connected at itsaxially opposite ends to said spout and sleeve elements, respectively.

14. A bottle filling valve comprising a tubular spout element, a tubularvent element extending axially through and spaced inwardly from saidspout element so as to divide the interior of said spout element intoseparate fluid and vent passages; means securing said spout and ventelements against axial displacement relative to each other; valve meansincluding a seat on said vent element and a sleeve element shiftableaxially relative to said spout and vent elements in cooperable relationto said fluid and vent passages so as to open both of said passages byaxial shifting of said sleeve element out of engagement with said valveseat and so as to close said passages by axial shifting of said sleeveelement into engagement with said valve seat; a cup member connectedwith said sleeve element and a reciprocable piston within said cupmember in cooperable relation thereto and to said sleeve member so as toform an annular axially expandable and contractable suction chamberaround said sleeve member, said piston having an axial aperture coaxialwith and spaced radially from said sleeve member so as to provide asuction passage in communication with said suction chamber exteriorly ofsaid sleeve element; and resilient pressure means biasing said sleeveelement into sealing engagement with said valve seat.

15. A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 14 wherein saidresilient pressure means comprise a coil spring reacting axially betweensaid spout and sleeve elements; and wherein another coil spring isoperatively interposed between said cup member and piston so as tourgethe latter into sealing engagement with said valve seat.

16. A bottle filling valve comprising a tubular spout element, a tubularvent element extending axially through and spaced inwardly from saidspout element so as to divide the interior of said spout element into aseparate fluid and vent passages; means securing said spout and ventelements against axial displacement relative to each other; valve meansincluding a seat on said vent element and a sleeve element shiftableaxially relative to said spout and vent elements in cooperable relationto said fluid and vent passages so as to open both of said passages byaxial shifting of said sleeve element out of engagement with said valveseat and so as to close said passages by axial shifting of said sleeveelement into engagement with said valve seat; a cup member connectedwith said sleeve element and cooperable in axially slidableengagementwith said spout element so as to form an annular axially expandable andcontractable suction chamber around said sleeve element, the bottom wallof said cup member being axially apertured to provide a suction passagein communication with said suction chamber; and resilient pressure meansbiasing said sleeve element into sealing engagement with said valveseat.

17. A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 16 wherein said axiallyapertured bottom wall and said valve seat are cooperable with each otherto close and open said suction passages upon axial back and forthmovements, respectively, of. said sleeve element relative to said ventelement.

18. A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 16 wherein saidresilient pressure means comprise a coil spring reacting axially betweensaid spout element and said cup member.

1. The method of filling a resiliently deformable bottle with liquidwhich comprises: a. placing the empty bottle into communication withseparate supply, vent and suction passages; b. feeding liquid into thebottle through said supply passage while maintaining said vent andsuction passages separately in communication with said bottle; c.closing said supply and vent passages after liquid has passed throughthe filled bottle into said vent passage; d. temporarily applyingsuction to said suction passage while said supply and vent passages areclosed, until part of the bottle content has been withdrawn through saidsuction passaGe; and e. removing the bottle from the closed supply, ventand suction passages.
 2. The method set forth in claim 1 and furthercomprising the step of closing said suction passage after part of thebottle content has been withdrawn therethrough.
 3. The method set forthin claim 1, wherein the empty bottle is first brought into communicationwith said suction passage and thereafter into communication with saidsupply and vent passages.
 4. The method set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid supply and vent passages are simultaneously brought intocommunication with the empty bottle.
 5. The method set forth in claim 1,wherein the empty bottle is first brought into communication with saidsuction passage and then with said supply and vent passages, and whereinsaid supply and vent passages are closed before said suction passage isclosed.
 6. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said supply and ventpassages are brought simultaneously into communication with the emptybottle, and wherein said supply and vent passages are simultaneouslyclosed before said suction passage is closed.
 7. The method ofsuccessively filling bottles with liquid which comprises: a. placing afirst empty bottle into communication with separate supply, vent andsuction passages; b. feeding liquid into said first bottle through saidsupply passage while maintaining said vent and suction passageseparately in communication with said first bottle; c. closing saidsupply and vent passages after liquid has passed through the filledfirst bottle into said vent passage; d. temporarily applying suction tosaid suction passage while said supply and vent passages are closed,until part of the content of said first bottle has been withdrawnthrough said suction passage; e. removing the first bottle from saidsuction and closed supply and vent passages; f. placing a second emptybottle into communication with said supply, vent and suction passages;g. feeding said withdrawn part of the contents of said first bottlethrough said suction passage and also fluid through said supply passageinto said second bottle; h. closing said supply and vent passages afterliquid has passed through the filled second bottle into said ventpassage; and i. removing the second bottle from said suction and closedsupply and vent passages.
 8. A bottle filling valve comprising a tubularspout element, a tubular vent element extending axially through andspaced inwardly from said spout element so as to divide the interior ofsaid spout element into separate fluid and vent passages; means securingsaid spout and vent elements against axial displacement relative to eachother, valve means including a seat on said vent element and a sleeveelement shiftable axially relative to said spout and vent elements incooperable relation to said fluid and vent passages so as to open bothof said passages by axial shifting of said sleeve element out ofengagement with said valve seat and so as to close said passages byaxial shifting of said sleeve element into engagement with said valveseat; and annular axially expandable and contractable wall meansoperatively associated with said sleeve element so as to provide asuction chamber around the latter and a suction passage in communicationwith said suction chamber at the radially outer side of said sleeveelement.
 9. A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 8 and furthercomprising resilient pressure means biasing said sleeve element axiallyupon said valve seat so as to close said fluid and vent passages; anannular valve element connected with said wall means and biased by axialexpansion of the latter upon said valve seat so as to close said suctionpassage; and abutment means on said sleeve element engageable by saidannular valve element upon axial contraction of said wall means so as tomove said sleeve element in opposition to said resilient pressure meansaway from said valve seat.
 10. A bottle filling valve as Set forth inclaim 9 wherein said valve seat comprises an O-ring sealingly engageableby said sleeve element and by said annular valve element.
 11. A bottlefilling valve as set forth in claim 9 wherein said resilient pressuremeans comprise a coil spring reacting axially between said spout andsleeve elements.
 12. A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 8wherein said axially expandable and contractable wall means comprise abellows member sealingly connected at one of its axially opposite endswith said sleeve element and having an annular portion at the other ofits axially opposite ends in surrounding, radially spaced relation tosaid sleeve element so as to define a suction passage between saidsleeve element and said other end of said bellows member incommunication with the interior of the latter.
 13. A bottle fillingvalve comprising a tubular spout element, a tubular vent elementextending axially through and spaced inwardly from said spout element soas to divide the interior of said spout element into separate fluid andvent passages; means securing said spout and vent elements against axialdisplacement relative to each other; valve means including a seat onsaid vent element and a sleeve element shiftable axially relative tosaid spout and vent elements in cooperable relation to said fluid andvent passages so as to open both of said passages by axial shifting ofsaid sleeve element out of engagement with said valve seat and so as toclose said passages by axial shifting of said sleeve element intoengagement with said valve seat; a first bellows member surrounding saidsleeve element and sealingly connected at one of its axially oppositeends to said sleeve element, an annular valve element secured to theother end of said first bellows member in surrounding, radially spacedrelation to said sleeve element so as to define a suction passagebetween said valve element and said sleeve element in communication withthe interior of said first bellows member; said valve element beingmovable into and out of sealing engagement with said valve seat on saidvent element by axial expansion and contraction, respectively, of saidfirst bellows member; and a second bellows member coaxial with saidfirst bellows member sealingly connected at its axially opposite ends tosaid spout and sleeve elements, respectively.
 14. A bottle filling valvecomprising a tubular spout element, a tubular vent element extendingaxially through and spaced inwardly from said spout element so as todivide the interior of said spout element into separate fluid and ventpassages; means securing said spout and vent elements against axialdisplacement relative to each other; valve means including a seat onsaid vent element and a sleeve element shiftable axially relative tosaid spout and vent elements in cooperable relation to said fluid andvent passages so as to open both of said passages by axial shifting ofsaid sleeve element out of engagement with said valve seat and so as toclose said passages by axial shifting of said sleeve element intoengagement with said valve seat; a cup member connected with said sleeveelement and a reciprocable piston within said cup member in cooperablerelation thereto and to said sleeve member so as to form an annularaxially expandable and contractable suction chamber around said sleevemember, said piston having an axial aperture coaxial with and spacedradially from said sleeve member so as to provide a suction passage incommunication with said suction chamber exteriorly of said sleeveelement; and resilient pressure means biasing said sleeve element intosealing engagement with said valve seat.
 15. A bottle filling valve asset forth in claim 14 wherein said resilient pressure means comprise acoil spring reacting axially between said spout and sleeve elements; andwherein another coil spring is operatively interposed between said cupmember and piston so as to urge the latter into sealing engagement withsaid valve seat.
 16. A bottlE filling valve comprising a tubular spoutelement, a tubular vent element extending axially through and spacedinwardly from said spout element so as to divide the interior of saidspout element into a separate fluid and vent passages; means securingsaid spout and vent elements against axial displacement relative to eachother; valve means including a seat on said vent element and a sleeveelement shiftable axially relative to said spout and vent elements incooperable relation to said fluid and vent passages so as to open bothof said passages by axial shifting of said sleeve element out ofengagement with said valve seat and so as to close said passages byaxial shifting of said sleeve element into engagement with said valveseat; a cup member connected with said sleeve element and cooperable inaxially slidable engagement with said spout element so as to form anannular axially expandable and contractable suction chamber around saidsleeve element, the bottom wall of said cup member being axiallyapertured to provide a suction passage in communication with saidsuction chamber; and resilient pressure means biasing said sleeveelement into sealing engagement with said valve seat.
 17. A bottlefilling valve as set forth in claim 16 wherein said axially aperturedbottom wall and said valve seat are cooperable with each other to closeand open said suction passages upon axial back and forth movements,respectively, of said sleeve element relative to said vent element. 18.A bottle filling valve as set forth in claim 16 wherein said resilientpressure means comprise a coil spring reacting axially between saidspout element and said cup member.